Heartburn Causes

What causes heartburn?

It's a circular band of muscles at the bottom of your esophagus that acts as a valve to the stomach. In some people it doesn't open and close properly.

This allows the acid in your stomach to flow back up into the esophagus. Since it doesn't have the same protective lining as the stomach has, the acid can irritate sensitive tissues, which causes the pain known as heartburn.

What foods cause heartburn?

Although the actual cause of heartburn is physical, certain types of food are seen as possible heartburn triggers.

Take a look at some examples:

What behaviors can trigger heartburn for some people?

We all have quirky habits. Most of them are harmless.

However, there are quite a few that can cause heartburn. There are ones that we do knowingly, like eating large meals or eating too fast. Then there are ones we do without thinking about repercussions, like lying down or exercising after eating, which puts pressure on the stomach.

What physical changes can trigger heartburn?

Your own body can act as a trigger and cause the pain of heartburn. Pregnancy, anxiety and obesity can all cause heartburn.